On Thu, 14 May 2009, Joseph Sinclair wrote: > While Google (and others) develop the Android O/S, the > carriers make all the decisions about how open the phone is. > The G1 is a *T-Mobile* phone, not a Google Phone. ...
> The T-Mobile G1, like any other T-Mobile Phone, is a locked > phone, and you can only run the apps that T-Mobile permits. > Google wrote the software open-source, but T-Mobile locked > down the phone environment. well; not to my experience but on another chassis ... actually I presently run an unlocked phone from RIMM on US T-mobile; I am given to understand (OLS OpenMoko presentation, Android devel ML's) that there are binary radio and cell network datalink modules one has to feed thru a defined api, but that one can add additional modules, once duly signed. And certainly I can manage the certificate (and thus signing key) chain it is using presently ... > There are unlocked HTC Dream phones available running > Android, but I don't know of any US carriers that will > permit you to use them. I have on order one "Dream G2 (Google Android, GSM, Unlocked)" and in transit from the manufacturer's sales agent in China; they represent it works on US T-Mobile, and I have no reason to disbelieve them .. we'll see > Even the Freerunner is difficult to get service with in the > US, our carriers mostly still have Ma-Bell Monopoly envy, > and want to lock you into their network so they don't have > to actually compete. I've also an 'I8' on the way as well (also called a 'A550+'), and pretty clearly it is running some Apple store content in screenshots, has an Apple style power connector, and may be intercepted at Customs as an infringing copyright knockoff [I hope it is just grey market goods, and will slip through] -- again, this (different) manufacturer's rep represents it works on US T-Mobile, and I have no reason to disbelieve them either .. we'll see > There are supposed to be several more Android-based phones > (and a couple netbooks) released in the next 3-6 months, so > if you can wait a little bit, that might be good. what fun is waiting, when one can be first on the block ;) > You can develop for the Android environment without a phone > using the development SDK, it's a qemu-based virtual > machine, so it works just like a real phone from a > development perspective. similar to the Apple SDK's approach for developing toward iPhone and iTouch then, but with a better VM hosting layer -- Apple runs a VM inside the outer (OS/X) OS simulating the device ... > Sometime soon I need to put together a > how-to-write-for-Android preso for devel, I just haven't had > any free time the past 7 months (although that's changing, > so I might be able to get it done soon). looking forward to it -- Russ herrold --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
